CVE-2025-24112 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that can cause an application to terminate unexpectedly when parsing a specially crafted file. This issue stems from insufficient validation and resource management during file parsing, classified under CWE-770, which relates to allocation of resources without proper limits or throttling. The vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity but impacts availability by causing denial of service through app crashes. Exploitation requires local access (AV:L) and user interaction (UI:R), meaning an attacker must convince a user to open or process a malicious file on a vulnerable macOS system. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions of macOS prior to the patched releases: macOS Sequoia 15.3 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, where improved checks have been implemented to prevent this issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting medium severity, with no privileges required and low attack complexity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation currently. The vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt business operations by causing application instability or crashes, potentially impacting workflows reliant on affected applications. The lack of confidentiality or integrity impact reduces the risk of data breaches but does not eliminate operational risks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and resource management in file parsing routines within macOS applications.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24112 is operational disruption due to unexpected application terminations on macOS systems. This can lead to denial of service conditions affecting productivity, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral to daily operations, such as creative industries, software development, and executive workstations. Although the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data or allow unauthorized code execution, repeated crashes could degrade user trust and increase support costs. In critical infrastructure sectors or financial institutions using macOS, unexpected app terminations could interrupt critical processes or delay decision-making. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation, but phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future attacks. Organizations with mixed OS environments may face challenges in incident response and patch management due to the specificity of the vulnerability to macOS. Overall, the impact is moderate but warrants timely remediation to maintain operational stability.

1. Apply the latest macOS updates immediately, specifically upgrading to macOS Sequoia 15.3 or macOS Sonoma 14.7.3 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Implement strict controls on file sources by restricting or scanning files received via email, downloads, or removable media to prevent malicious file delivery. 3. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious files, emphasizing caution with files from unknown or untrusted sources. 4. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal application crashes or suspicious file parsing behaviors on macOS devices. 5. Monitor system and application logs for frequent or unusual app terminations that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Use application whitelisting and sandboxing where possible to limit the impact of crashes and prevent lateral movement. 7. Develop incident response plans that include macOS-specific scenarios to quickly address denial of service caused by application failures. 8. Coordinate with IT asset management to identify all macOS devices and ensure they are promptly updated and monitored. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive patching, user awareness, and detection tailored to the macOS environment and the nature of this vulnerability.